The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-30
President Grovy's Resignati

Ou0 WOulu uoLuiohy cuppSoo eAAsss sA'S 49,
Vailants of Prime Minister RouvIER must
have taken for granted that the downfall OF
the present Cabinet II brought about by the
exposure OF the CAFFAREL scandal, might
involve also Presidential crisis. Never
thelees the Republican members Of
the Chamber Of Deputies seem to
have been staggered by M. CREWS
published determination to resign II
The imputed connection Of his son-in-law
with the disgraceful traffic In decorations Is
to be made the subject Of Legislative investi-
cation. The committee Of inquiry has itself
pronounced the production Of fresh proofs
indispensable to the effective discharge Of
ats function and the leader Of the advanced
radicals, NJ. CLEMKNoIAU. who urged the
appointment Of the committee, now declares
DO will DO no party to maneuvres calculated
b overthrow the President.
This Ii state Of things 30 CURIOUS as to
be really unintelligible to those who overlook
D capital feature Of the French Constitution
and the actual relation Of parties In the two
Legislative chambers. In France, under the
present republican regime, q President is
chosen, precisely as Is q United States Sena-
tor for the State Of New York, by the
Senate and lower House Of the Legis-
lature voting In Joint session. In such a
Congress-, a. II would now DO composed.
the Conservatives and Opportunists would
command . majority. and the Republicans
Of more pronounced type could not elect
their candidate even II they had one The
result Of compelling or accepting President
GRfvY's resignation at this time would be
the election OF H. DE FREYoNET. who is dis
trusted by tho radicals, or. strange to say.
through q coalition Of Conservatives and a
large fraction Of the ouondam Gsmbettists,
of N. JULES FERRY, who is detested by the
friends Of CLfMKNoRAu and BouLAN0ER. It
IL no secret that the olandestine but powerful
Influence Of BISMARCK In Paris is actively
exerted In the interest Of FERRY. and 1t
seems no less certain that all the indirect
and secret assistance In the power Of Russia
can be counted on by FKRRY's opponents at
the next general election. That NJ. GRfvY
should be left undisturbed until new
Chamber of Deputies Is chosen. Is thus not
only expedient but almost necessary from
the point Of view Of CLiMENcEAU's party
and of the advocates Of . programme Of re-
venge.
We can understand then, why. as politi-
clans looking to partisan advantage, the Re-
publican majority Of the legislative cham
ber and M. CLEMRNcEAu himself now hesitate
In presence Of the unwelcome dilemma In
which they are placed by the Presidents
threat of resignation. But to foreign spec
tators II seems clear that by combining their
attention to the special interests OF the radi-
cal faction they are In danger Of over
looking the fatal discredit which COL
fusion or mere inaction upon their part
may bring on the whole fabric Of
free institutions. The French republic
Is now subjected to test Of the same kind
with that which In the year ls47 put 30 great
strain upon the monarchy Of LOUIS PHIL
IPPE. Indeed, the test Is q severer one for
the serious charges brought against NJ.
WILSON strike at the palace and the family
OF the head OF the State. LOUIS PHILIPPE
was irreparably damaged In the popular es-
teem because the Duke OF PRAsLIN, instead
Of being condemned to the guillotine, was
allowed to commit suicide. and because q
President Of the High Court Of Appeals,
although convicted, was let of with what
the public deemed inadequate punishment.
A French republic cannot afford to be more
lenient to crime and corruption than was the
July monarchy. for then the manifesto Of
the Count Of PARIS, which at first was smiled
ut a. an academic prolusion. would become q
document OF the gravest possible signifi-
canoe. II M. CLEMENcKAU and his friends
care moro for the triumph OF their faction
than for the stability Of republican govern
ment they will shut OF the rightful lnvesti-
cation Of wrongdoing the moment 1t ap-
proaches the palace Of the Elysee. But 1t
may turn out that the Chamber has more at
heart tho welfare Of the republic than the
Tepose and private interest Of the unluoky
but respectable old man who happens to be
Its hgurehead.